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T. W. BALL.

Tempering Metals.

Patented May 28, 1867;

Inventor %WZ/@% Witnesses:

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THOMAS W. BALL, 0F MORRISANIA, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 65,043, mad at, 28, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN TEMPERING UMBRELLA-RIBS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, THQMAS W. BALL, of Morrisania, in the county ofWestchester, and State'of New York, have invented an Improvement inTempering Unibre.la-R'ibs; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad tothe annexed drawings, making partof this specification, wherein- Figure1 is a longitudinal section of said machine; and

Figure 2 isa cross-section of the same.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

It is found by experience that heat applied to one side of a. rib doesnot temper the same with uniformity, that is, one side of the metal istempered more than the other, and hence the spring or elasticity varieson opposite sides. 7

The object of my invention is to hold umbrella-ribs in a straight formafter they have been hardened, and while in that condition expose themto a uniform temperature on all sides, so as to temper the same andleave the rib with a uniform spring in all directions, and straight.

I make use of a tube or series of parallel tubes or tubular openingsarranged in a cylindrical form or in a plane, and each tube is of a sizeto pass through it, the rib to be tempered, and I employ gas to heat thetube and the rib within such tube or tubular opening. The tube retainsthe rib in a straight form while being tempered, and hence the rib willremain straight when cool.

In order to heat the tubes or tubular openings with uniformity on allsides I'employ gas, and rotate the tubes either separately or in acircular range, either horizontally or vertically, so as to bring allparts equally into contact with the heat, or I have the gas-blast allaround the tube or tubular opening, or rotate the gas blast around suchtube.

In ordr to prevent loss ofheat from the large radiating surface causinginequalities in the tempering operation or injury to the operator, Ienclose the tubes or tubular openings in a double shell or casing,filling the intervening space with plaster or some non-conductingmaterial, thus insuring perfection in the tempering as well aseconomy. Ig i I have shown in the annexed drawing a series of these tubularopenings arranged in a circular form and supported upon suitable ends orheads. Within this circular range a I introduce the gas pipe I) that hasburners that heat the inner sides of the pipes at, and a second range ofgas pipes and burners, a, heat the outer sides of said tubes. dis acasing around the outside of the tubes, and a similar casing may be madewithin the range of tubes to aid in equalizing the heat. The exteriorcasing e is made of two thicknesses, with plaster or othernon-conducting material between to retain the heat. I introduce intothese tubes or circular openings the ribs, and I- supply said ribssuccessively into thetubes, and revolve the range of tubesgradually soas to bring them into contact with the heat on both sides, and by thetime the range has been revolved the first rib is tempered, and ready tobe pushed out by the introduction of another rib to be tempered. If thegas were revolved, and a blast or blower employed, the range of tubesmight stand still and be filled successively.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tubular opening, intO which the ribs are introduced, in combinationwith gas jets, 'or other source of heat, so applied as to act upon allsides of such tubes or tubular openings, and temper the umbrella-ribswith uniformity, as specified. I v

2. I claim a'double casing of non-conducting material in combinationwith such tubular openings, and heat applied in the manner and for thepurposes specified. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 21st day ofDecember, A. D. 1866.

THOS. W. BALL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. SMITH, G120. D. WALKER.

